5. Stockholm

Coming out of the recession practically unscathed, Stockholm has risen from its 2009 No. 16 spot on the Prices and Earnings report, according to U.S. News & World Report. An urbane traveler’s paradise, you can admire Picassos in the Moderna Museet gallery, then head to Millesgarden, where sculptures from the Middle Ages await, TIME’s City Guide suggests. But if that’s not your thing, you can just as easily buy a round of shots at a stag party.

Budget travelers:TIME’s City Guide advises that you eat freshly caught fish from the herring wagon in Sodermalm Square after you buy a 72-hr. Stockholm Card for $75, granting you unlimited rides on the city’s cheap and efficient metro, the Tunnelbana, and access to more than 75 attractions.